过年　Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival

　　对联　poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry

　　春联　Spring Festival couplets

　　剪纸　paper-cuts

　　年画　New Year paintings

　　买年货　special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping

　　敬酒　propose a toast

　　灯笼　lantern: a portable light

　　烟花　fireworks

　　爆竹　firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)

　　红包　red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)

　　舞狮　lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)

　　舞龙　dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)

　　戏曲　traditional opera

　　杂耍　variety show; vaudeville

　　灯谜　riddles written on lanterns

　　灯会　exhibit of lanterns

　　守岁　staying-up

　　拜年　pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit

　　禁忌　taboo

　　去晦气　get rid of the ill-fortune

　　祭祖宗　offer sacrifices to one's ancestors

　　压岁钱　gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift